Apparatus for labeling boxes

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for labeling closable boxes for welding electrodes including transporting means movable stepwise for moving the boxes into operative relationship with respect to an adhesive container, a label supply, and a pressing unit. The arrangement is such that upon cessation of movement of the transporting means, adhesive is applied to one box, a label to another box to which adhesive had previously been applied and pressing the applied label to yet another box. Upon further movement of the transporting means, the above operational steps are repeated.

United States Patent Inventors Harald Strohmeier Potschenweg l0;

Bertram Hebenstreit, Ludweg Tullerg 4,

both of Kapfenberg, Austria Appl. No. 754,280 Filed Aug. 21, 1968 Patented Dec. 7, 1971 Priority Aug. 21, 1967 Austria APPARATUS FOR LABELING BOXES 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 156/565, 156/516,156/573 Int. Cl ..B32b 31/20, B65c l/02 Field 01 Search 156/564,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,128,875 4/1964 Kay et a1 198/221 3,488,241 1/1970 Faltot 156/573 X 1,863,176 6/1932 Wild.... 156/565 2,078,252 4/1937 Kraft 156/565 X Primary Examiner-Benjamin A1 Borchelt Assistant Examiner-James M. Hanley Attorney-Holman & Stern ABSTRACT: Apparatus for labeling closable boxes for welding electrodes including transporting means movable stepwise for moving the boxes into operative relationship with respect to an adhesive container, a label supply, and a pressing unit. The arrangement is such that upon cessation of movement of the transporting means, adhesive is applied to one box, a label to another box to which adhesive had previously been applied and pressing the applied label to yet another box. Upon further movement of the transporting means, the above operational steps are repeated.

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PATENTEU DEB HSTI 3,625, 805

snmaura In venton a Max. Hun- J APPARATUS FOR LABELING BOXES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an apparatus for labeling boxes and more particularly closable boxes for welding electrodes.

Up to the present time, the labeling of boxes for welding electrodes has been done by hand. At the same time, the boxes were covered with an adhesive and the labels were then placed onto the areas covered with the adhesive and pressed downwardly. This particular method is disadvantageous in view of the very considerable labor costs involved in the labeling of the boxes.

It would be possible in order to avoid the above-mentioned disadvantage, to use one of the known fully automatic operating machines employed for labeling of bottles and similar articles in a somewhat altered form for the labeling of the boxes in question. In the case of the known labeling machines, the labels usually are taken from a supply stack through contact with an adhesive covered receiving plate, peeled off by means of a suction thrust element which is movable through an opening in the receiving plate and transferred by such element to a rotatable delivery component on which the labels are held firmly through suction with the adhesive side thereof outwardly. Thereafter, the application of the labels is effected via a rolling contact between the delivery component and a series of objects positioned thereby the element. These particular labeling machines which are quite complex in structure are objectionable in that the costs for the manufacture and maintenance thereof are quite substantial.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which avoids the disadvantages above mentioned and which effects the labeling of boxes for welding electrodes in a particularly simple, reliable and fully automatic manner.

Generally, the foregoing object is achieved by the provision of a transporting means which moves the box in a forward direction step by step together with a container for the adhesive which can be pressed against the boxes and provided with a comparatively large number of outlet openings in its bottom, a label receiving container which is open at its bottom and a pressing unit which can be pressed from above against the boxes.

More particularly in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the adhesive container, the label receiving container and the pressing unit are arranged on a framework which is pivotal in parallel to the direction of movement of the boxes and which framework can be moved by means of a crank and driving rod during the cessation of movement of the transporting means in a direction toward the boxes.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to persons skilled in the art from the following detailed description and annexed drawings and in which drawings:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of an apparatus embodying the invention,

FIG. 2 is a plan view for the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a view in perspective of one of the boxes disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2 on a larger scale prior to the labeling process and with the flaps still open, and

FIG. 4 is a view generally similar to FIG. 3 of one of the boxes following the labeling process.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4 a box 1 comprises a closed back or end wall 2. a lower flap 4, an upper flap 5 and rightand left-hand flaps 3' and 3 respectively. The box is rectangular in configuration and is filled with welding electrodes.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. the boxes 1 which rest on a horizontal slideway 7 are adapted to be pushed forwardly in a step by step fashion with the assistance of two stops 8 perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the boxes. Each stop 8 is arranged between two parallel rails 9 and is pivotally attached by means of a bolt 10 or the like to the rails. The rails 9 which pass through two longitudinal slits provided in the slideway 7 rest upon rotatable rollers 13 attached to a framework 12 and are moved back and forth in a horizontal direction via a crank 14 and a driving rod 15.

If, the rails 9 are displaced from left to right, the stops 8 which are supported by pegs 11 provided on the rails 9 and projecting from the slideway 7 will cause a forward movement of the boxes by one step. In the event movement of the rails takes place in the opposite direction, that is to say, from right to left, the stops 8 abutting against the boxes will then be swung into their horizontal position indicated by a dotted line and they will then slide past below the stopped boxes.

During stoppage of the boxes, a mounting or holder 17 which is swiveled around bolt means 16 will be moved downwardly by means of a crank 18 and a driving rod 19. An adhesive container 20 is disposed on the mounting l7 and the bottom thereof is provided with a substantial number of outlet openings 21. Also, a label receiving container or box 24 and a pressing unit 34 are carried by the mounting 17. It will be noted that the pressing unit 34 is provided with a cushioning layer 38 of a foam plastic preferably foam rubber. Hence, when the mounting 17 is moved downwardly the box 10 will have adhesive applied thereto, the lowermost label 6 in the container 24 will be positioned on the box 1b and any air present between the box 1c and the label 6 resting thereupon is eliminated when the layer 38 is applied against the box.

Holding clamps 33 are provided at the lower left edge of a container 24 for the labels to make certain that the labels 6 the width of which are somewhat larger than the inside dimensions of the sidewalls of the container 24 will drop out by themselves from the container 24.

If, however, as a result of the previously described downward movement of the mounting 17, the lowest of the labels 6 in the container 24 comes to rest on the upper side of the box 1b that has been coated with adhesive then such an considerable adhesive force develops that upon the later upward movement of the mounting 17 this label 6 will adhere to the box 1. Hence, every time only the lowermost label 6 is removed from the container 24 in the process described above. Moreover, it is also essential that prior to the processing of the labels the lower flap 4 and the left-hand flap 3 of the boxes are closed by means of a component 39 provided with two ends 43 and 44 defining a fork. The part 39 is rotatably mounted on a peg or pin 40 of a crank 41 and is guided by a bolt 42 attached to the framework 12. The bolt 42 is lodged in an elongated slot 45 provided at the end of the component 39 which is opposite the ends 43 and 44. As a consequence, the ends 43 and 44 execute rotating movements and first close the lower flap and thereafter turn over the left-hand flap 3. The right-hand flap 3' will only be closed during the continued movement of the box 1 through a perpendicular slide surface 47' which extends transversely to its direction of movement. The upper flaps 5 of the boxes 1 rest, during the labeling process on level horizontal supporting surfaces 46' extending essentially at the level of the upper edges of the boxes. The adhesive container 20, the label container 24 and the pressing unit 34 project beyond the supporting surface 46'. Hence, the labels 6 applied to the boxes are disposed partly on their upper side surface and partly on their upper flap 5.

Slide surfaces 47 and 48 extending obliquely upwardly or obliquely downwardly serve to prevent the boxes becoming stuck at angle 46 having the surface 46' and on the mounting 17. There is a gap or hiatus between the surfaces 47 and 48 through which the flaps 5 of the boxes 1 pass. At the other end of the surface 46', the angle 46 has been beveled downwardly and beyond that position is provided a vertically positioned tongue 50 extending in the direction of movement of the boxes and towards the boxes. A gap 51 is provided between beveled end 46 of the angle 46 and the tongue 50 which is reached by the flaps-5 of the boxes 1 which are then turned over following the labeling process.

At the termination of the transporting arrangement above described, an additional transporting means (not illustrated) and arranged perpendicularly thereto is provided and serves for the continued transportation of the labeled boxes 1.

The cranks 14, 18 and 41 previously mentioned which serve for effecting the individual operational steps are rotatably mounted on the framework 12 and are driven by an electric motor 52 via chain transmission means 53 and 54 at the same peripheral speed and displaced in relation to one another by corresponding angles.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be noted that the adhesive container 20 is provided with two pairs of diametrically opposed apertured lugs or ears 22 which receive reduced ends 23 of uprights or posts 23. Furthermore, the sidewall of the label container 24 facing the container 20 is provided with two apertured lugs or ears 25 which receive reduced-end portions 26 of the uprights or posts 26'. In other words, the lugs 22 and 25 rest on the shoulders defined at the juncture of the reduced portions 23 and 26 and the uprights 23' and 26' respectively. Immediately before the mounting 17 reaches its lowest position during its downward movement, the containers 20 and 24 come to rest on the boxes and 1b (FIG. 1). As a result thereof, the containers and 24 are shifted by a small amount on the reduced end portions 23 and 26 in a vertical upward direction relative to the mounting 17.

More specifically, this is accomplished by virtue of the fact that the container 24 has associated therewith two clamping levers 27 located opposite each other and which levers are pivotally connected by bolts or the like 28 with a cross bridge 29 which rests on the container 24 and are held back at their outer ends 27' by uprights 30 secured to the mounting 17. In the event of pivotal movement of the levers 27 their inner wedge shaped ends 27" are directed upwardly as a result of which the distance therebetween is increased. A holding rod 31 provided with grooves 31' complementary to the ends 27 passes between the ends 27". The rod 31 is affixed to a weight 32 disposed above the uppermost label 6 in the container 24. Whenever the levers 27 engaging with the grooves 31 are in their horizontal positions, such levers will effect a jamming of the rod 31, that is to say the weight 32 which is located somewhat above the label is held back by the levers 27. However, whenever the distance of the inner ends 27' of the levers 27 increases because of the previously mentioned pivotal movement, then the jamming of the rod 31 ceases and the weight 32 will press the lowermost label 6 against the box lb. In this way, it is assured that the lowermost label 6 is pressed sufficiently strongly against the upper side of the box lb which has been coated with the adhesive.

Upon the upward movement of the mounting 17 which subsequently occurs, the levers 27 will, at first, again reach their horizontal position and as a consequence again lift the weight 32 from thestack of labels 6 before the labels together with the container 24 are elevated.

lt will also be noted that the pressing unit 34 is provided with a pair of guide bolts or stems 35 which pass through apertures in the horizontal portions of a pair of arms 17' affixed to the mounting 17. The upper ends of the guide bolts 35 are provided with nuts 36 and helical springs 37 located between the horizontal portions of the arms 17 and the unit 34 provide the necessary contact pressure. it should further be mentioned in connection with the adhesive container 20 that round outlet openings 21 having a diameter of 3 m. have proven quite favorable if a highly viscuous liquid adhesive (glue) containing water preferably as a solvent is employed. When the container 20 is elevated, elongated drops 21' of adhesive are formed below the openings 2l due to the coaction of surface tension, force of gravity and viscosity and these drops upon the placing of the container 20 onto the top of the box 1a are flattened by pressure.

Asa consequence, there is achieved the desired coating of the upper side of the box la with a small amount of adhesive. The present apparatus makes it possible to execute the process of labeling of the boxes in a particularly simple, reliable and fully automatic fashion. A further advantageous aspect of the apparatus resides in the fact that the labels can be placed onto the boxes in such a manner that the labels will be disposed partly on a side surface and partly on a flap constituting one of the front surfaces. As a result, it is possible to recognize the contents of stacked boxes from their front surfaces which are visible in c%e it has been printed, as provided, onto the parts of the labels located on the flaps.

This invention is not to be confined to any strict conformity to the showings in the drawings but changes or modifications may be made therein so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An apparatus for the labeling of boxes and more particularly foldable boxes for welding electrodes, including transportingmeans for moving the boxes forwardly step by step, a holder capable of upward and downward movement relative to the transporting means, a label container located on the holder and which can be pressed from above against the boxes, an adhesive container attached to the holder, said adhesive container having a large number of outlet openings in the bottom and which container can also be pressed from above against the boxes, two oppositely located levers flexibly connected with the label container and said levers also being mounted with their outer ends on uprights and the inner ends thereof being wedge shaped and provided with a rod.

2. An apparatus for the labeling of boxes and more particularly foldable boxes for welding electrodes, including transporting means for moving the boxes forwardly step by step, a holder capable of upward and downward movement relative to the transporting means, a label container located on the holder and which can be pressed from above against the boxes, an adhesive container attached to the holder, said adhesive container having a large number of outlet openings in the bottom and which container can also be pressed from above against the boxes, slide surfaces in front of the adhesive container viewed in the direction of movement of the boxes, said slide surfaces extending obliquely upwardly or downwardly and between which slide surfaces is located a slit through which the upper flaps of the boxes extend to the slide surface extending obliquely upwardly, a horizontal plane supporting surface connected thereto, said horizontal place supporting surface being substantially at the same height as the upper edge of the box, and above said latter supporting surface extends the adhesive container and the label container, a forked portion at one side rotatably located on a pin on a crank which rotates in the advance movement cycle of the transporting means, and on the other side with a fixed bolt which is lodged into a longitudinal slot located at the end of the forked portion opposite the two ends of the fork whereby the two ends of the fork fold over the vertical flaps of the box.

3. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which the transporting means includes a crank for effecting step by step forward movement of the boxes, the first-mentioned crank and the crank carrying the forked portion being provided on a common drive shaft and being displaced approximately with respect to one another.

4. An apparatus for the labeling of boxes and more particularly foldable boxes for welding electrodes,-including a fixed slideway and parallel rails for the boxes, stops pivotally mounted between the parallel rails, a driving rod and crank operably connected with the stops whereby the stops can be moved about their pivots in forward and rearward directions, with the stops extending forwardly only during forward movement of the rails whereby the boxes are moved forwardly step by step, a holder mounted for upward and downward movement relative to the slideway and rails, an adhesive container attached to the holder capable of being pressed from above against the boxes, said container having a large number of outlet openings in the bottom, a label container located on the holder after the adhesive container viewed in the direction of movement of the boxes, said label container also being pressed from above against the boxes, a label pressing means on the holder after the label container, and spring means operably related to the label pressing means to press said label pressing means against the boxes, a second driving rod and crank operably connected to the holder for imparting upward and downward movement to the holder, said first and second cranks being substantially parallel to each other and rotating with the same number of revolutions, slide surfaces in advance of the adhesive container extending obliquely upwardly or downwardly and between which slide surfaces is located a slit through which the upper flaps of the boxes extend to the slide surface extending obliquely upwardly, a horizontal place supporting surface connected thereto, said horizontal plane supporting surface being substantially at the same height as the upper edge of the box, and above said latter supporting surface extends said containers and pressing means, a forked portion at one side rotatably located on a pin on a third crank, and on the other side with a fixed bolt which is lodged in a longitudinal slot located at the end of the forked portion opposite the two ends of the fork whereby the two ends of the fork fold over the vertical flaps of the box, said first and third cranks being provided on a common drive shaft and being displaced approximately with respect to one another.

l k l 

2. An apparatus for the labeling of boxes and more particularly foldable boxes for welding electrodes, including transporting means for moving the boxes forwardly step by step, a holder capable of upward and downward movement relative to the transporting means, a label container located on the holder and which can be pressed from above against the boxes, an adhesive container attached to the holder, said adhesive container having a large number of outlet openings in the bottom and which container can also be pressed from above against the boxes, slide surfaces in front of the adhesive container viewed in the direction of movement of the boxes, said slide surfaces Extending obliquely upwardly or downwardly and between which slide surfaces is located a slit through which the upper flaps of the boxes extend to the slide surface extending obliquely upwardly, a horizontal plane supporting surface connected thereto, said horizontal place supporting surface being substantially at the same height as the upper edge of the box, and above said latter supporting surface extends the adhesive container and the label container, a forked portion at one side rotatably located on a pin on a crank which rotates in the advance movement cycle of the transporting means, and on the other side with a fixed bolt which is lodged into a longitudinal slot located at the end of the forked portion opposite the two ends of the fork whereby the two ends of the fork fold over the vertical flaps of the box.
 3. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which the transporting means includes a crank for effecting step by step forward movement of the boxes, the first-mentioned crank and the crank carrying the forked portion being provided on a common drive shaft and being displaced approximately 90* with respect to one another.
 4. An apparatus for the labeling of boxes and more particularly foldable boxes for welding electrodes, including a fixed slideway and parallel rails for the boxes, stops pivotally mounted between the parallel rails, a driving rod and crank operably connected with the stops whereby the stops can be moved about their pivots in forward and rearward directions, with the stops extending forwardly only during forward movement of the rails whereby the boxes are moved forwardly step by step, a holder mounted for upward and downward movement relative to the slideway and rails, an adhesive container attached to the holder capable of being pressed from above against the boxes, said container having a large number of outlet openings in the bottom, a label container located on the holder after the adhesive container viewed in the direction of movement of the boxes, said label container also being pressed from above against the boxes, a label pressing means on the holder after the label container, and spring means operably related to the label pressing means to press said label pressing means against the boxes, a second driving rod and crank operably connected to the holder for imparting upward and downward movement to the holder, said first and second cranks being substantially parallel to each other and rotating with the same number of revolutions, slide surfaces in advance of the adhesive container extending obliquely upwardly or downwardly and between which slide surfaces is located a slit through which the upper flaps of the boxes extend to the slide surface extending obliquely upwardly, a horizontal place supporting surface connected thereto, said horizontal plane supporting surface being substantially at the same height as the upper edge of the box, and above said latter supporting surface extends said containers and pressing means, a forked portion at one side rotatably located on a pin on a third crank, and on the other side with a fixed bolt which is lodged in a longitudinal slot located at the end of the forked portion opposite the two ends of the fork whereby the two ends of the fork fold over the vertical flaps of the box, said first and third cranks being provided on a common drive shaft and being displaced approximately 90* with respect to one another. 